Fact or Fiction

June 6, 2002
From: B. Michael

Dear Dr. Rudman,
Could you please resolve an ongoing disagreement? This question is a bit bizzare, but true. Is it fact or fiction there is a species of Goby fish which lives within the anus of a Sea Cucumber? (or possibly a Sea Slug?) If so, what is the name of this fish?
Thank you,
B. Michael

get_hooked@hotmail.com

B. Michael, 2002 (Jun 6) Fact or Fiction. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7163

Dear B. Michael,
There are a group of fish which live at least some of their lives in the anus of holothurians - believe me I've seen them!
They are not gobies but a specialised group of the family Carapidae, commonly called Pearlfishes. I can't tell you much about them, except that the ones I saw were about 15cm long. The name should help you search out some more information.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Jun 6). Comment on Fact or Fiction by B. Michael. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7163

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